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Dam Safety Authority being strengthened

Special Correspondent

It will start functioning from Legislature Complex shortly

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran said here on Friday that the Government was acting efficiently in strengthening the Dam Safety Authority.

Denying reports about delay in commencing the functioning of the Authority, the Minister said files relating to the Authority were being acted upon quickly. The Authority office would start functioning from the Legislature Complex immediately.

Mr. Premachandran said the Government acted on the Mullaperiyar issue with all the seriousness. It was not an issue connected to Tamil Nadu diverting water but of threat to life and property of the people in the State.

Noting that the previous Government had acted commendably in bringing a law on dam safety, the Minister said that it had not, however, taken the constitution of the Authority or arrangement of facilities for its functioning seriously. There were complaints about qualifications of two of its members. Though a Chairman was in place, provisions in the rules that prevented his continuation were not amended.

As consideration of amendments to the rules by the Assembly Subject Committee would take time, the Government used its powers to amend them. While steps were being taken to reconstitute the Authority, the members whose qualifications were questioned quit on their own. So, the Government filled the vacancies with qualified experts, he said

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